Published July 29, 2024
Carriage Hill MetroPark’s new trail invites public to explore local history
A Five Rivers MetroParks facility, Carriage Hill MetroPark, 7850 E. Shull Rd, showcases living history through education efforts and preservation practices at the Carriage Hill Historical Farm. The newly opened Carriage Hill Family Farm Trail invites visitors to take a step back to simpler times and explore life on a working farm in the 1880s.
The 0.75-mile, natural surface Carriage Hill Family Farm Trail includes interactive stops where visitors can imagine the park when it was home to the Arnold Family, landowners from the 1830s to 1916.
Visitors are encouraged to experience the new trail during Small Farm & Food Fest this Saturday, Aug. 3, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The festival is free for those of all ages and features workshops, demonstrations, a pop-up farmers market and more – in addition to the unveiling of the new Carriage Hill Family Farm Trail.
“The Arnolds lived a simple life guided by their German Baptist Brethren faith,” said MetroParks outdoor connections program manager Bernadette Whitworth. “They ran a prosperous family farm and sawmill and were active in the community and church.”
To access the new trail, visitors walk through the Carriage Hill Historical Farm, which includes original and reproduction buildings representing the 1880s. The farm is also home to heritage animals and heirloom crops found on the Arnold’s family farm.
The trail provides a connection to other Carriage Hill MetroPark features and aligns with MetroParks’ sustainable trail initiative, which calls for natural surface trails to have less of an environmental impact while improving hikers’ experience.
Points-of-interest along the trail include:
- Truck patch gardens – This large traditional garden is filled with crops such as pumpkins, potatoes, beans, melons and more. Heirloom crops are planted in the spring to be harvested through fall. In the 1880s, the Arnold family loaded ripened produce into a wagon to be sold at market.
- Arnold family cemetery – Generations of the Arnold family are buried in the family plot on the grounds of Carriage Hill’s historical farm, as was more customary in the 1800s. The family graveyard was started in 1840 with 10 family members and three children of neighbors buried at this peaceful spot over the proceeding 70 years.
- Joseph Arnold House – In the 1800s, it was not uncommon for families to build houses close to their existing family. Joseph Arnold, the second son of Daniel Arnold, built a house on his father’s property in 1853.
- Sugar camp – Each winter, the Arnold Family tapped more than 50 trees to collect sap to make syrup which would be sold at market. The process of boiling sap to make maple syrup was very laborious. Evaporator buildings, much like the one on the historical farm, helped the process.
- Orchards – The restored orchard is similar to what one would have expected on a family farm in the 1800s. Apples, plums, cherries and peaches were planted in various locations, including the orchard. Planting fruit trees was a way for farmers in the bygone era to increase their land’s value.
- Equipment graveyard – Old farm implements are tucked away along the Family Farm Trail. Rather than dispose completely of broken and outdated equipment, 19th century farmers resourcefully kept them to use for parts.
The Carriage Hill Family Farm trail – which takes about 30 minutes to an hour to complete – also explores life on the farm, working animals, historical farming practices and much more. Visitors can also navigate this trail by using MetroParks’ free mobile app, which can be downloaded by visiting metroparks.org/mobile.
Visitors can visit the historical farm to experience ongoing demonstrations provided by MetroParks historical interpretive staff and volunteers on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m., and Sundays 1 to 3 p.m. Demonstrations range in topic from blacksmithing and textile work to heritage cooking skills, all of which one would have experienced on a farm in the 1880s.
“The trail is a fun way to experience more of Carriage Hill as a family,” said Whitworth. “We hope the new stations inspire play, spark conversations and help visitors learn more about the Arnolds and their life on the farm.”
In addition to Carriage Hill MetroPark’s historical farm and Family Farm Trail, it offers multiple recreational opportunities including 3.6-miles of natural surface hiking trails, fishing, horseback riding, nature appreciation and more.
To learn more about Carriage Hill MetroPark visit metroparks.org/carriage-hill.
A conservation agency, your Five Rivers MetroParks supports the environment by protecting nearly 16,000 acres of land – 90% of which is in its natural state. This includes hundreds of miles of trails and 35 locations, including 18 parks plus the 2nd Street Market. With more than 2.05 million visitors last year, your Five Rivers MetroParks is a community asset that supports quality of life and attracts visitors who boost the local economy. Help your MetroParks protect the region’s natural spaces and keep its facilities up-to-date, safe and open by visiting www.metroparks.org/protect.
